HomeMy WebLinkAbout0139.093• ~ . ,
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January 28, 1993
THE HONORABLE CIT. COUNCIL
Palo Alto, california
Palo Alto Water Main Qigtribution Flushing P~ogram -status Report
Members of the Cou-~cil:
This is an informational report on the status of the Water
utility's annual Water Main Distribution System Flushing program~
It advises council why su~h a proqram is required and when it will
be implemented. No Council action is required.
BackgrQund
Historically, the city of Palo Alto and appr-c..oximately 85 percent of
water utilities in the united States use 11lain flush~"nq to improve
water quality for water customers. Water utilities may flush
distribution mains for A variety of reasons: corrosion control;
sedi.ent removal. taste-and odor control: control of color, high
turbidity, low chlorine residuals or bacteriological growths; or as
a response to customer complaints. The ~ain objectives of Palo
Alto's flushing program ~re to imp~ove water ~lalitYI control of
bacterial 9ro~th and for sediment removal.
Discussion
The Palo Al to Water Utilj ty postponed the annual main flushing
proqram. for three years because of the drought. Combined "'"1 th th.is
delay in flushing is the fact that a reduction of water use by
customers has accelerated the buildu~ of sediment in the mains.
During the last year numerous calls vere rec~ived complaining about
water quality. Staff took water samples in response to these calls
and .found that the reduced water quality is due to the buildup of
sediment in the mains. City Fire Department personnel are also
experiancing more sediment in their equipment from the city water
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system.. Because of the sediment buildup, staff has determined that
~he water distribution flushinq prog~am should be reinstated this
year. On March 15, 1993 and continuinq through March 21~ 1993, the
City's Water Utility will oper. fire hydrants to flush out sediment
which has collected in the mains during the past several years.
~e water s}~ste.m flushing schedule a.ttached to this report will be
mailed to the City's vater customers through utility billings and
displayed in the Peninsula Times and the Palo Alto Weekly ..
7~;;:;;uhmitted'
.fo,-~s BORG
Senior Engineer
/1 .. ~J.J ·7,'/. c....e-/<.~ t..7'l /r#I._--<"--, ..... /-~
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ICHARO L. YOUNG v
irector of Utilities
Attachment: Water system Flushing Schedule
CXIt: 131: t3
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Water
Monday
March 15
Mondav Night
System
March 15 <"\ J ~WANB I.
10:00 PM .• ,..., ,7
Sunday
March 21
Tuesday Njght".~\
March 16 I"" 'M
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I
Flushing Schedule
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'1.,\.\ .' .. , ,
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2;1 .. o
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Wednesday
March 17
Friday Night
March 19
7:00 PM
Friday
March 19
--~'Tuesdav
Maret. 16
_-./ ~ ( -Sunday
March 21
---Tuesday
March 16
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'the Palo Alto Wattl( UtJlity will
ooGin It" pipll9:lifl6 clellning at the. water
distribution SYlitflrr" This Anl)Ua) Fit13hinQ
ProQram WQ'ts discont''"Il/o(f because of th~
dfOU«ht, byt dvong the P~lit 'Ittaf we hl;tvu
receIved numerous '''))5 inquifino .1n(ll.lt
watM QUilNtV. ~Cau£e of this, wt! will
onCe agsi" beo!n t~e water dil<ui/Juti-of{
flushing p""OQram which wIll stan on
'March 1 fl, 199:) and cCmtml1B fll(O!),,/)
March 2' I 1993.
rhu CifY'S Wilfi.'rr Utility will open
f(rl.J; hvdran.\s. to fhlSh out $edimen1 wtl)ch
has (:o)lec!ltd in ~h6 mdlns d\Jrtn{\ th!.!. past
5eVflfi:\' yein!),
lila f!l)snil'"l\l of the m3LO$ may
cause-some SHI/H t&mporaFV reduction in
wrltay pr95SI,)fe rlod pos~ibro discolofalinl"'.
l-\owAVE'r, your w.ltI,.r will reo-lain.
nbsnlute1v safe far d(\fl"ir·~lli~
It is SU\)9~Hited th.at you rafrain
{({1m cl.1ing humdry whiht the water liMS
ars belne tru .. h~d jj1 \lour particutar $orca.
If '101j li~q n!!oaf any area border, pleas;e
refr;iin from dQj(lQ lalJl"\drv whllelht' water
Ijr,BS ;ne bf!JnQ IJushei1 in both Breas
for ;"!ddi{ional infOfmation, plaMe
ta)j 496·6~82.
Thimk'lou,
CITY OF PALO ALTO
Municipal Ufififies
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